Anne Brown at her home near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta on June10, 2010. Anne Brown is an intervener in an Energy Resources Conservation Board hearing on a proposed new bitumen upgrader in the area by France's Total oil company. Photo by Jimmy Jeong

Dubbed Alberta's Industrial Heartland, Fort Saskatchewan (an Edmonton suburb) residents are faced with the construction of another bitumen upgrader. This one by France's Total Energy. The construction in the area has brought jobs and wealth to the region but the story is more complicated than that. So, you really should read the Globe And Mail story to get a grasp of everything involved. The thing is, it might affect more than just the residents in the area.

Potatoe farmer Wayne Groot stands on one of the fields he farms across from the Shell Scotford upgrader near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta on June10, 2010. Photo by Jimmy Jeong

 

It just happens that this industrial heartland is also considered very fertile farmland. How close should refineries be allowed to be built near our food source?

Barb Collier stands at her mother and grandparents' home near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta home on June10, 2010. Barb Collier is testifying in an Energy Resources Conservation Board hearing on a proposed new bitumen upgrader in the area by France's Total oil company. Photo by Jimmy Jeong

 

 

Seba Beach, Alberta - June 26, 2010 -  Ashley Thompson, 13, who has attended the camp for several years, plays with Cetiva Rymer, 7, and sister Shawna Thompson, who has attended the camp as a camper's companion. They are visiting Camp He Ho Ha's (health, hope and happiness) 50th anniversary. The camp is Alberta’s first summer camp for people with disabilities and the only facility in the province that accepts individuals regardless of the type or degree of their disability. PHOTO BY JIMMY JEONG

At one time, 50 years ago, it was called the camp for crippled children. There were no paved roads and resources were scarce. Today, the camp is more like a resort with skilled staff, a boat, a huge and scary climbing wall and political correctness. After spending the day with people like Ken Thomas, who was there for the opening of the camp, one thing that hasn't changed is that the camp is this wonderful place for so many people. Like other camps, it gives these kids those great camp memories. And lets kids feel like kids.

If you get a chance read the Edmonton Journal story by Mariam Ibrahim.

The Technical Stuff: Whenever I work on longer piece stories I travel light. One Nikon D700 with a 70-200mm lends and a D3S with a 50mm f1.4 (One-point-four, can't ask for more. Just a saying I used to say). Ok, maybe that's not super light. But that combination allows me to shoot from a distance to capture candid moments and then come in for more intimate glimpses into people's lives (something a bit wider can help with this). And if people can sense that you're an honest person they will open right up and share a part of themselves with you.

 

I have to say that I love magazine assignments. The most obvious is because the photos are printed on beautiful paper stock and they can also play very large. And when working with a talented art director, the design just holds up the story and images in perfect harmony. Ahhh. Text + Image equals a wonderful experience. I really hope the iPad will allow these great art directors to really push for beautiful and intuitive design that just works.

Ok. Back to the photography. I was assigned by Edmonton's Avenue Magazine to take the photos of a local parkour group for their May edition. The story was written by Kimberley Ireton. The traceurs (a practitioner of parkour) in the photos are Wayne Higham, David Tonner and Thera Raudsepp.

 

Being a huge Star Trek Fan, when I heard that Leonard Nimoy was being welcomed in Vulcan, Alberta, Canada I had to be there. Here are some of the photos of the great fans and the small prairie town of Vulcan.